April 3, 2010
Wrestling Awards Banquet Photo Gallery
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IOWA CITY, IA – Iowa’s three NCAA wrestling champions – seniors Brent Metcalf and Jay Borschel, and redshirt freshman Matt McDonough – have been named winners of the Mike Howard Most Valuable Wrestler Award for the 2009-10 season. Iowa’s 2009-10 team awards were announced at an awards banquet Saturday.
The awards gave the Hawkeyes a chance to reflect on another successful season. Iowa won its 23rd NCAA and 34th Big Ten titles while crowning three NCAA champions, eight all-Americans and two Big Ten champions. The team was undefeated at 23-0 in dual competition, marking the 13th perfect season in school history. Iowa was also 11-0 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and 8-0 in Big Ten duals, winning its third-straight conference regular season title. Iowa won the 2009 Midlands and 2010 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals Division I team titles, ending the season on a 61 dual-match winning streak and shutting out eight opponents – both of which are school records.
Metcalf was a two-time NCAA and Big Ten Champion and three-time all-American at 149 pounds with a 108-3 record in three years at Iowa. In 2008, he earned the Dan Hodge Trophy, which is annually presented to the nation’s top collegiate wrestler, and the Jesse Owen Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year Award. His 47 career pins rank seventh in school history, and his career winning percentage (.973) ranks second. He posted a 68-1 career dual record, going 24-0 in Big Ten duals and scoring 346 team points in dual competition. The Davison, MI, native is one of four wrestlers in conference history to be named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week five times during their collegiate careers. He was also a two-time (2008-09) Big Ten Championships Outstanding Wrestler, 2008 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year, 2008 NCAA Division I Championships Outstanding Wrestler and 2009 NWCA/Cliff Keen Division I National Duals Outstanding Wrestler. Metcalf is a three-time academic all-Big Ten honoree and Dean’s list student, earning a spot on the NWCA Division I all-academic team twice. He also earned the team award for most pins in a season for the second-straight year, sticking 16 opponents in 2009-10.
Borschel won his first NCAA title last month, and is one of 19 Iowa wrestlers, in school history, to post an undefeated season record (37-0). He ends his three-year Iowa career with a 98-10 record, winning the 2010 Big Ten and 2009 Midlands titles at 174. The Marion, IA, native is a two-time all-American, three-time NCAA qualifier and three-time Big Ten and Midlands placewinner. Borschel went 62-3 in dual matches and 21-1 in Big Ten duals, scoring 265 team points in dual competition. He led the team in collegiate wins (37), dual wins (23), collegiate and dual winning percentage (1.000) and fastest fall (0:13) this season. Borschel is a three-time academic all-Big Ten selection, earning a spot on the NWCA Division I all-academic team in 2008 and the Dean’s List in 2009. He was also named Division I Outstanding Wrestler at the 2010 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals.
McDonough ended the season with a 37-1 record at 125, earning his first NCAA title and all-America honor. He was undefeated at 23-0 and scored 104 team points in dual competition. The 2010 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, 2009 Midlands champion and conference runner-up at 125, McDonough scored bonus points in 28 of his 37 wins. He led the Hawkeyes in major decisions (15), collegiate wins (37), dual wins (23) and dual winning percentage (1.000). The Marion, IA, native also earned the team’s John and Dorothy Sill Award, which is presented to the most dedicated wrestler, on and off the mat.
The five other Hawkeyes to earn the team’s All-America Award were seniors Daniel Dennis, Ryan Morningstar, Phillip Keddy and Dan Erekson, and sophomore Montell Marion. Marion also earned the team’s Most Improved Award. Morningstar and senior Chad Beatty shared the Mike J. McGivern Award, which is given to the most courageous wrestler.
Dennis ended his four-year Hawkeye career (2006-10) as a two-time all-American and NCAA qualifier with a 69-28 career record at 133 pounds. A two-time Big Ten and Midlands placewinner, the Ingleside, IL, native posted a 44-15 dual record, which includes a 20-2 mark in 2008-09 and a 16-2 record this season.
Morningstar ended his Hawkeye career with a 110-40 record that spans four seasons between 157 and 165 pounds (2007-10). He posted a 65-22 career dual record, scoring 231 team points in dual competition. The Lisbon, IA, native is two-time all-American and four-time NCAA qualifier, Big Ten and Midlands placewinner for the Hawkeyes. He started 86 duals in his four-year career and wrestled 25 overtime matches.
Keddy finished his four years in an Iowa singlet with a 102-42 record at 184 pounds (2007-10). A three-time all-American, Keddy is a four-time NCAA qualifier, four-time Big Ten and three-time Midlands placewinner. The Vernal, UT, native posted a career dual record of 64-20, including a 23-1 mark last season. He started 84 duals for the Hawkeyes, scoring 256 team points in dual competition.
A two-time Big Ten champion and all-American, Erekson ended his Hawkeye career with a 69-37 record at 197 pounds and heavyweight (2006-10). He qualified for the NCAA Championships three times. The Eagle, ID, native started 53 duals for the Hawkeyes, scoring 145 team points in dual competition and pinning 28 opponents.
Marion posted a 27-6 record in his first full season in the varsity lineup, earning his first all-America honor. The Des Moines, IA, native has a 37-9 career record and posted an 11-3 dual record this year, going 6-2 in Big Ten duals.
Beatty ended his four-year Hawkeye career with a 50-25 record, wrestling between 174 and 197 pounds. He was 17-5 this season, making his second appearance at the NCAA Championships. A two-time Big Ten placewinner from Wilton, IA, Beatty placed third at the 2009 Midlands Championships.
Hawkeye senior Dan LeClere was named the J. Donald McPike, Sr., Award winner, which is given annually to the senior with the highest grade-point average. A three-time academic all-Big Ten selection, LeClere is an interdepartmental studies major who was named to the Dean’s list in 2007 and the NWCA Division I all-academic team in 2008. The Coggon, IA, native posted a 38-15 career mark in three seasons at 141. He won the 2007 Midlands title and placed fifth at the 2007 Big Ten Championships to earn an automatic NCAA bid. LeClere went 25-8 in dual competition and posted a 10-2 mark at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
2009-10 University of Iowa Wrestling Team Awards
Mike Howard Award (Most Valuable): Matt McDonough, Brent Metcalf, Jay Borschel
Mike McGivern Award (Most Courageous): Ryan Morningstar, Chad Beatty
J. Donald McPike, Sr. Award (Highest GPA for graduating senior): Dan LeClere
John & Dorothy Sill Award (Most Dedicated Wrestler On & Off The Mat): Matt McDonough
All-America Award: Daniel Dennis, Montell Marion, Ryan Morningstar, Phillip Keddy, Dan Erekson
Most Pins Award: Brent Metcalf (16)
Most Improved Award: Montell Marion